RoadVitals

2025 RAM 1500 Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
46
Latest Aug 12, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 308 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2025 RAM 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 46 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

The 25 most recent of 46, in the owner's own words

BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Aug 12, 2026

Recall 03d on ram 1500 no parts available since March told to call back in month, dealer never ordered part called back in may ,no part went above dealer to order part,got another recall letter in August, called dealer no part,went above dealer,parts on back order.why we have recall and can't get part.got this truck to pull my travel trailer. If lights quit and brakes fail ,not good for me.they need to fix or by my truck back

NHTSA ID
11756544
Incident
Mar 1, 2026
Driver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Aug 5, 2026

The emergency braking system initiated during operating my vehicle (has done it 3 times) for no reason. It locks up my engine and will not let me operate the vehicle. The software went crazy with warnings. Would not allow me to turn off the engine. It acted like it thought I was having a front end collision. I seriously have been afraid to drive. I have this feature turned off, it should never have activated. I have had several electrical issues; example: drivers side running light twice has had to be replaced (first time it was only a few months old); the passenger side had to be replaced. The air pressure warnings are inconsistent, the screen goes black on my Uconnect system; the clock settings change daily. It drops, freezes or reboots constantly. The first week I had my truck the check engine light came on, I took it back to dealer and they found nothing wrong. A few weeks later it happened again; took it back and they said it was a "KNOWN" RAM issue, nothing is really wrong and no fix was available. It comes on frequently, I get it checked each time. It goes off on its own now. I do not trust it. How will I know if it really has an issue???

NHTSA ID
11755050
Incident
Jul 4, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 23, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start as intended. The contact became aware that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start while using the key fob. The contact manually restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure was diagnosed with a misfire at cold start. The contact was informed that the part to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the computer was reset. The vehicle was released to the contact. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument cluster went blank. The blind spot light failed to function as intended. In addition, the driver's side rear view mirror failed to adjust as intended. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System). The contact was informed that the parts would be unavailable for the next six months. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

NHTSA ID
11752398
Incident
Nov 12, 2025
Mileage
5,000 mi
Driver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Jul 22, 2026

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID
11752197
Incident
Apr 30, 2026
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 RAM 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID
11749275
Incident
Jul 9, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the recall notification stated that parts were available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID
11747676
Incident
Feb 2, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 11, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID
11743460
Incident
Feb 11, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted on several occasions and confirmed parts were on back order. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID
11742913
Incident
Jun 9, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 4, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500 Gignorn. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: (example: 20V315000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was/was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was/was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.  The VIN was invalid./The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID
11742059
Incident
Feb 11, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 23, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were available but limited in quantity. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID
11733414
Incident
Apr 23, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 22, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH on the driveway and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal went to the floorboard, and the vehicle failed to respond as intended, causing the braking distance to be extended. The brake warning light was consistently illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the part was not yet available because only one part could be ordered every 7 days. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11733064
Incident
Apr 19, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 22, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and stated that the manufacturer was providing one part per week to the dealers. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID
11732951
Incident
Apr 22, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 21, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID
11732779
Incident
Apr 21, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 13, 2026

The vehicle is a 2025 Ram 1500 with an active safety recall related to the trailer light connection/wiring system. The issue causes warnings indicating trailer light malfunction and affects proper trailer light operation. This is a significant safety concern because I regularly tow trailers, and improper trailer lighting creates a risk for accidents, especially at night or during braking and signaling. The recall has been confirmed by the dealer, however, the dealer has stated that parts are not available and cannot provide a timeline for repair. It has been over a month with no resolution. No repair has been performed, and the issue remains unresolved. Warning messages related to trailer connection and lighting have appeared. This directly impacts the safe operation of the vehicle and my ability to tow for work purposes. The manufacturer has not provided a timely remedy for this safety recall.

NHTSA ID
11730739
Incident
Feb 6, 2026
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 8, 2026

Our 2025 Ram 1500 is subject to a safety recall involving the trailer brake system. The dealer confirmed that the defect may cause trailer brakes and trailer lighting to fail. We were advised that there is currently no repair available and that parts may not be available for up to a year. Because of this defect, we are unable to safely tow our travel trailer, which is a primary intended use of the vehicle. This creates a significant safety concern, as failure of trailer brakes could result in loss of control while towing. The issue has been confirmed by an authorized dealer. No repair has been performed because a remedy is not yet available. The condition is ongoing.

NHTSA ID
11729953
Incident
Apr 8, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 2, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were available. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID
11728779
Incident
Apr 2, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 31, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System). The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the dealer was only receiving one part for a recall repair every 90 days. The contact was placed on a waiting list. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID
11728196
Incident
Mar 31, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 30, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lightning, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the part was not yet available. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the part was not yet available. In addition, the contact was informed that available parts were used to repair unsold vehicles at the dealer. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID
11728066
Incident
Mar 30, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 30, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that several dealers were contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealers confirmed that parts were unavailable. The dealer informed the contact that the parts were on backorder, and only one or two parts were provided to the dealer weekly. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID
11728043
Incident
Mar 30, 2026
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 30, 2026

Cluster went black when driving the truck. It came back a few minutes later after re-starting the engine. It seems there is a recall issued in Dec/2025, but my truck is not included on the list of suspect VIN numbers.

NHTSA ID
11727983
Incident
Mar 29, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 30, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that parts for the recall repair were on back order. The contact was then placed on a waiting list. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID
11727971
Incident
Jan 15, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 25, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID
11726997
Incident
Mar 25, 2026
Driver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Mar 25, 2026

I am contacting you regarding my 2025 Ram 1500 with an open safety recall (Manufacturer Recall #03D, NHTSA #26V-059). Case Number [XXX] This recall has been active since February 2, 2026, and my dealer has informed me that parts are still not available. It has now been over a month with no clear timeline for repair. I need clarification on the following: I keep calling the manufacture they told me that the recall parts are not available. appreciate escalation of this matter due to the extended delay. Thank you for your prompt attention. Sincerely, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11726960
Incident
Feb 2, 2026
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 23, 2026

While towing a loaded horse trailer, I received a red "trailer brake" warning light on the instrument cluster indicating that the trailer brakes were no longer connected. I confirmed that the trailer brakes were not working by attempting to activate them manually with the trailer brake controller. There was no response from the controller and no brakes on the trailer functioned. Within about 3-4 minutes of the trailer brake issue, I also lost all trailer lights on the trailer. When this happened, I decided to pull over in a safe area and attempt to check the trailer connections. All trailer connections were securely installed, free from any damage, and had functioned flawlessly for days prior. I was forced to continue to my destination without trailer brakes or trailer lights despite being stuck in a substantially strong thunderstorm with heavy rain and low visibility. When I reached my destination, I called my selling dealership to report the issue. I was told by the service advisor that they had "hundreds" of trucks on a wait list and that Ram was only sending them one repair part per week. He also stated that they hadn't recently received any parts and had no idea when more would become available. Their only suggestion was to "call and complain" to corporate, and that there was nothing more they could do. This incident with truck occurred on March 20th 2026. I had already called the dealership on March 6th after discovering (via NHTSA site) that my truck had been flagged for the trailer brake control recall. The dealership gave me the same response previously. "We have hundreds of trucks but no parts, call back in four weeks". At that point, I had not received any official documentation of a trailer brake control module recall from Ram. I did not receive my official letter from Ram until March 21st, the day after my incident.

NHTSA ID
11726368
Incident
Mar 20, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 20, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the trailer lights became inoperable. The contact stated that the trailer lights and trailer brake system failed to function properly. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to several dealers; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealers confirmed that parts were not yet available and informed the contact that there was an estimated waiting time of approximately one and a half years for the parts to become available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, the request for a buyback was denied. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 8,700.

NHTSA ID
11725916
Incident
Mar 20, 2026
Mileage
8,700 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

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